Fish supplement changes endometrial and plasma n-3 fatty acid levels in cows.

2004 FEB 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Fish supplement changes endometrial and plasma n-3 fatty acid levels in cows.

"Seven nonlactating mature Angus cows (4 to 10 years old) were used to examine the effects of fish meal supplementation on plasma and endometrial fatty acid composition. Cows were fed a corn silage-based diet supplemented with either fish meal, a rich source of the n-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoate and docosahexaenoate (n=3; 5.1% of dietary DM), or corn gluten meal (n=4; 8. 5% of dietary DM) for approximately 64 days (d). Cows were given 25 mg of prostaglandin F (PGF)(2alpha) intramuscularly on d 11 and 25 of supplementation to synchronize estrous cycles. On d 18 post-estrus of the second estrous cycle, cows were slaughtered, and caruncular endometrium was dissected from uteri immediately after slaughter," according to researchers in the United States.

"Jugular blood samples were collected immediately before supplementation was initiated (d 0) and at 7-d intervals for 35 d of the study," stated P.D. Burns and colleagues, Colorado State University, Department of Animal Science.

"Plasma eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids did not differ between treatment groups on d 0 (p>0.10); however, these fatty acids were greater in cows supplemented with fish meal ...